Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-07-06
TOOK THE OLD LADY.
An Incident ThstCouId Never Happen Out
aid ,EE ascso

Mr.. DOOIittse called in Portehesterl
square and asked for Miss Elizabeth
Rradish. Down she tripped into the
long drawing-room, which was rather
bare and shabby, it is true, and
adorned with profusion of amateur
paintings in oil that set ones teeth on
edge. But Elizabeth was in herself so
beauesful and bewitching that her sure
rcundings were forgotten. She was a!
thing of beauty and a. Joy forever, and
so thought the infatuated James as he,
sat down beside her on the faded green
rep sofa and gently preached the all
exciting topic of Patti and the opera. ,
He cleared his throat, and after an
embarrassing pause, began:
"Have you ever heard Patti sing,
Miss Elizabeth?'
"Why, no, / can't say l have, e1-
actly," replied the chaTmer, with an
arch smile. Elm not millionaire. I
have seen her picture, and have her
autograph in my album, but that is
probably as far as [ shall ever get in
the Patti question. Whyp"
Because" said Mr.. Doolittle, slowly
and cautiously. Because I have got
two tickets for Thursday night, and if
you'd like to go"
There was shrek of delight, and
the red slippers twinkled as their owner
pranced round and round the room in
whirl of pleasure. -
'Go? Of course I'll CO." she cried.
'When does it begin? What time viii
you come for me? What shall | wear?
What is the operap 'Semiramide?' o,
how delightful ~
And she was so enchanting in the RAJ
dance of anticipa lion during the rest
of the evening that Mr.. Doolittle' S heart
! became battered wreck, and he went
away at eleven o'clock more madly in
love than ever, longing desperately for
the evening to come which should bring
about the plighting of her troth.
At last, after long waiting, it did
come in very truth. At 1880 carriage
and pair drove up before the Bradish
postern, ard from it aiighted q gallant
cavalier, respondent in the glories of a
8,
cane and Piccadilly tile. One superb
orchid doomed in his button hole, and
in his right hand, which was ungloved,
he bore huge bunch of Jacqueminot
roses, to be presently offered at the
shrine of his devotion. There were
heads at many of the windows of the
adjoining houses, for every one in the
neighborhood had learned in some mys-
terious way that Elizabeth was going
to the opera with her beau, and if he
had not been too much absorbed in his
own pleasant thoughts he might have
seen a blonde bang and a pair of blue
eyes regarding him with much feeling
from overhead, as he stood on the steps
ringing violently at the bell.
The dingy maid of all work fuag
wide the poctal and he entered in. He
stood by the piano lingering the roses
and turning over in his mind the sim
pie sentences in which he designed to
offer her his heart and hand. For two,
three long hours he would have her by
his side and alone, and if that would
not be an opportunity for lover, what
wouidp At length there was a rustling
as of feminine petticoats upon the stairs,
and the heart that had caused poor
James such delicious torments already,
thurped loudly at his ribs.
''She comes, my lady comes" he muir
INJURED in q rapture, and stepped for
ward to greet the radiant vision.
The old lady tall and angular, in a
black borbazine shawl and an anti-
quated bonnet, stood there, struggling
with her gloves, that boosted single
button. There was no sign of Miss
Bradish.
''Be you MIR. Doolittle?" said the
stranger presently, in rasping voice,
as she regarded that gentleman's brill
liant array somewhat curiously.
II am said he CURLY. where
Elizabeth? Isn't she readyp It's time
now we were off,
The old lady smiled pleasantly, dis
playing a row af porcelain teeth.
Elizabeth amt going" said she.
"She's got an awful cold, and her ma
thinks best she shouldn't 60 out, and
Lizabeth said she wanted L should 90
in her place as I've never seen any
opery. Tn her Aunt Mirandy, from
Kennebunk."
The poor fellow actually staggered.
He flung the roses on the floor and
began to utter curses as loud as they
were deep, when he saw that Aunt
Mirandy had opened the door and was
already half way down the front steps.
With bound, he was at her side. He
saw all the laughing faces of the neigh
bors at the windows, clearly enough
now, and his first impulse was to drag
the poke bonnet and the bombazine
shawl down to the sidewalk and trample
them under foot. But he set his teeth
in grim determination and got into
the carriage after her.
Where top said the driver, slam
ming the door.
ITO the Deuce" answered Mr.. Doc
little iercely, and, in a milder tone, as
Aunt Mirandy looked terrified, he said,